Source:REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani
[Saba Sports News] Newey once again became the center of attention at the Qatar Grand Prix. The soon-to-be team principal of Aston Martin was spotted carefully inspecting Verstappen’s car on the starting grid. This moment was particularly striking as Newey had earlier in the weekend closely observed McLaren’s MCL39 car for the third time.
The Qatar Grand Prix marked Newey’s third visit with Aston Martin this season, and this time, his role was not just as a technical partner but also as the team principal for the Aston Martin F1 team starting in the 2026 season. At the Lusail International Circuit, his observational habits were on full display again. From examining Verstappen’s RB21 to studying McLaren’s MCL39, Newey took the time to analyze every detail, even closely watching the right rear section of Norris’s car before the sprint race, and then rushing to examine the left front corner before the main race.
Clearly, he is striving to grasp the design trends of today’s leading cars. In an interview with British media, Newey revealed that his decision to take on the role of team principal is tied to Cowell’s proactive suggestion to lead future coordination with Honda and Saudi Aramco. He pointed out that the 2026 power unit regulations will significantly change and present major challenges for team relationships and technical integration, making Cowell’s technical background particularly suitable for this task.